BRYAN Robson has dropped his broadest hint yet he is ready to entrust Nathan Ellington with a key role in a bid to revive Albion's season.

BRYAN Robson has dropped his broadest hint yet he is ready to entrust Nathan Ellington with a key role in a bid to revive Albion's season.

The Baggies boss, whose side take on Arsenal tomorrow, admits he will come under pressure if his summer signings, including Ellington, fail to shine at The Hawthorns.

Since Albion's survival last season, Robson has spent in excess of £9million bringing in new blood - including Diomansy Kamara, Curtis Davies and Darren Carter - in an attempt to consolidate the club's Premiership position.

With the Baggies short of goals, Robson is now hoping Ellington will force his way into the side and help to drag them away from the drop zone.

"The only striker who has put himself forward is Geoff Horsfield," said Robson. "It wasn't just his goals, he was doing well - but then the calf strain kept him out for a few weeks.

"The opportunity is there for the strikers and I'd say Nathan is the only one who hasn't really had a chance yet.

"Kanu started off the season, Kevin Campbell has been in there, Rob Earnshaw has had a three-game run too.

"But Nathan, because of this shoulder injury in the summer, found his fitness was down and it's taken him time to get adjusted to that and getting used to playing with new team-mates.

"Nathan will get a chance somewhere along the line and it's up to him to grasp that." Robson has yet to find a settled team, with first-team places still up for grabs.

But he believes results must come soon or Albion will face a long winter of struggle.

"If players perform they will stay in the team," he added. "You put the lads out and if you get a good result, it's not often you'll tamper with the team because you know you'll disrupt that cohesion.

"A win now will move us up the league but there will come a time when that won't happen."